Positives from this loss

[alybaba]

- Well atleast they made it to 47 overs and 187 - they looked at falling for less than 150 at some point.

- Shoaib Malik shows what he is all about - he played the most sensible innings, at high strike rate, and played decently with the tailenders. He didn't lose faith and kept on pushing.

- This will make them rethink their batting lineup - I don't think it's quite in right order. I'd prefer that Younis open with Nazir, and Malik come one down.

[Uzzy]

The only positive was Shoaib Malik.

[Karachi]

Decent inning from Malik.

[invincible]

Gul and hafeez were good with the ball ...

[Geordie Ahmed]

Rao's bowling and Maliks batting.

Also maybe this will convince the management to drop Rana

[Amjid Javed]

Gul and Raos bowling. I thought fielding was good.

Maliks batting...

[offcutter]

the tail is way too long, and not enough seam options
this is my team for the super 8s

Hafeez/Nazir
Younis
Malik
Yousuf
Inzi
Afridi
Azhar
Akmal
Rao
Gul
Sami/Kanaria/Naved/Arafat

[P4K1 #1]

Maliks batting thats it ..

[Blistering Barnacle]

I don't think there are any positives.

The fact that this lineup and this batting order was used shows some very poor thinking.

That Malik should have been higher up the order has been discussed extensively even before this match.

That Inzi should be higher up the order has likewise been discussed.

That most teams bat deep is well known, but Pak chose to bat only six "specialist" batsmen plus wicketkeeper - and that six includes Hafeez (average of 18.8 from 45 games at 58 SR). No other all-rounders were played, so Pak ended up with a long tail.

Pakistan losing here just shows that Inzi's thinking and strategy is very flawed. If he really wants to contribute to this team he needs to open the innings or come at one down. My preference would be for him to open with Nazir and for Malik to come one down. YK should play at 5 or 6 in a Dravid type role. That position is better for his style of cricket in terms of running between the wickets for quick singles.

The lineup for the next game should have Hafeez down the order. The line up for the 3rd game should be:

1. nazir
2. Inzi
3. Malik
4. Moyo
5. YK
6. Hafeez
7. Afridi
8. Akmal
9. Sami
10. Rao
11. Gul

[Geordie Ahmed]

BB there is NO WAY Inzi will open so its no point listing that lineup - aint gonna happen

[UJ]

The loss came early in the tournament.

[mlegha1]

One positive Hafeez's average still under 20 may be after the WC we will try to get a regular opener.

[Oxy]

Ironically, Pak fielding was quite good.

[Amoeba]

Ironically, Pak fielding was quite good.

Apart from two dropped catches off Sarwan and Lara, and a missed run-out.
Just shows what is deemed good for Pakistan!

[siddharth]

same thing happened in the 92 WC.

[mlegha1]

Apart from two dropped catches off Sarwan and Lara, and a missed run-out.
Just shows what is deemed good for Pakistan!
Yeah except for usual suspects Kaneria and Akmal.

[Oxy]

Apart from two dropped catches off Sarwan and Lara, and a missed run-out.
Just shows what is deemed good for Pakistan!I thhink our expectations are too high. We arent as great as we would like to think we are in any facets of the game - but not as bad as we make out when we lose.

[Blistering Barnacle]

BB there is NO WAY Inzi will open so its no point listing that lineup - aint gonna happen

I agree that it's highly unlikely but that just makes me frustrated with Inzi. Fleming promoted himself to open, I don't know why Inzi can't do the same. Chanderpaul is another middle order bat who has begun to open.

Personally I think Inzi is beginning to be a negative influence on the middle order. His approach is too laid back at the moment, too dependent on the lower order firing. His running has deteriorated too it seems. He should at least move to no. 3 if he can't open for whatever reason.

Moving up the order would not only probably help him to play a better more natural game, it would be the best thing for the team. We don't need someone coming in to bog down the innings at no. 5. We need a quick runner, a good rotator of the strike. YK would be better suited there, running with Yousuf and other young players lower down the order.

Yousuf today was obviously struggling to score. When Inzi came in, suddenly both ends were struggling to score. One of the batsmen had to take it to the bowlers.

[Kashif]

Gul, Rao and Hafeez (Bowling)
Only 11 Extras (normally a silly number)
Shoaib Malik (Batting)
The Result: Same happened in WC92, also a wake up call.

[Kamranz]

NEVER select players who arn't in-form on basis of 'experience'.

[waqar_ahmad]

I thhink our expectations are too high. We arent as great as we would like to think we are in any facets of the game - but not as bad as we make out when we lose.

very treu OXY, i think rana cozt us the match. windies batted very similar to us, but they bowled well. if rana had bowled better, we would have got them for under 200

[Sabika]

plus point is that its over and the other two teams will nto be posing such a threat

[nedian21]

Rao's and Kaneria bowling. Malik's batting. Inzi and Bob shd play Kaneria even when Afridi is back. we shd back our spin attack with Hafeez, Malik, Afridi and Kaneria.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Thats overdoing it imo nedian - i would drop Kaneria for Afridi - Kaneria's bowling isnt that special, infact id rate Afridi's bowler higher in ODI's

[MediumPacer]

The players might be home early to be with their families if there is an upset in one of the two remaining games...

[Cric-PhotoPassionate]

very treu OXY, i think rana cozt us the match. windies batted very similar to us, but they bowled well. if rana had bowled better, we would have got them for under 200
Last 10 overs were badly planned by Inzi. Rao was much better option to use instead of Rana

[ComedyCricket]

lol Allan Border is tipping Ireland to beat Pakistan.

[Bilsher007]

the tail is way too long, and not enough seam options
this is my team for the super 8s

Hafeez/Nazir
Younis
Malik
Yousuf
Inzi
Afridi
Azhar
Akmal
Rao
Gul
Sami/Kanaria/Naved/Arafat


I believe this eleven really be the best for pakistan in the super eight;

Pakistan

1. Younis
2. Hafeez
3. Malik
4. Inzamam
5. Yousuf
6. Afridi
7. Mahmood
8. Akmal
9. Gul
10. Rao
11. Sami


Our positives today were gul, rao, hafeez, malik and kaneria bowled very well and restricted the batsmen from making more runs. Fielding was much better than the previous matches and even though kamran missed a catch and stumping chances he made up for them immediately later on. Positives in batting was shoaib malik, he showed the seniors younis, yousuf and inzamam how to pace your innings when under pressure.

I would play kaneria in the next three matches ( remaining two group matches and one super eight match) until afridi is back. Sami should automatically replace rana in the rest of the matches to be played in this world cup. Imran nazir should be immediately dropped and azhar mahmood should be his replacement. Rana and nazir should not come anywhere near the team seriously. Without any exaggeraton i would send both rana and nazir back to pakistan on the next available flight and not let them back in the side again.

[Cric-PhotoPassionate]

lol Allan Border is tipping Ireland to beat Pakistan.
Yeah Yeah, it seems like he got some Irish blood in his body. :)))

[Faisal Akhtar]

Last 10 overs were badly planned by Inzi. Rao was much better option to use instead of Rana

Rao only had 1 over left.

[Kamran]

The positives for me were rao and hafeezs bowling along with gul who looked good in his first spell.With the batting inzi looked like he really meant business and although he didnt win the game for us today i think he will have a great world cup and finally malik who done really well again.

[iZeeshan]

We know we have to get rid of Rana. We also know that Rao is a great bowler, which is a plus because now we have a very decent opening bowling pair in Gul and Rao.

As for the openers, there's nothing to do. I'd say keep them, and just switch Malik and Younis around.

[suhaib]

- we must get rid of rana
- allrounder needed to beef up batting
- problem is with batting not bowling
- inzi and moyo need to move 1 position up, malik needs to replace hafeez in order or just throw hafeez out, and move younis to 5.
- we cant field so stop wasting your time on it in practise.

[tman786]

Kamran Akmal have provided another dismall performance in his batting... why he been given so many chances? when it really matters, he always screws up.

[Sheikh_Chilli]

01. Inzi doesn't have the technique, temperament or experience
to handle a new ball. To suggest that he open, is nonsensical. The
same goes for Younis Khan and Yousuf.

02. Shoaib Malik is a fighter. There was no doubt about that, but
he has always had a tendency to play the careless 'uppish drive'
on the leg side and he put a skier up there today. Better teams
have and will exploit this shortcoming in his game.

03. Younis Khan remains out of form, contributing little with the bat
and dropping one sitter in the slips. He doesn't bowl, he does not
field (except stand around in the slips). The only thing he is good
at anymore is starring in one ad, after another. Yipee!

04. Kamran Akmal... what a waste. He needs to see a shrink.

05. Rao was lucky he didn't get hammered all over the place today.
Against better teams, he'll get pulverized.

06. Inzi has shown (once again) that when everybody is losing his
head, he is the one man in this team, who will stand up and take
the fight to the competition. In doing so, he naturally (and quite
rightly) becomes the leader of this outfit. There isn't another like
him and until we can identify someone with those qualities, we
should all thank God that he is playing fit and willing to lead a bunch
of natural chokers.

Let's face it, without our first string of bowlers, we are going nowhere.
The only thing left, is how bad is it going to get for our team, before
they hightail it outa there and come home to face the music.


Sheikh 'Disgusted' Chilli

[cricket_crazy]

Well the positives is that its good we haven't peaked too early.

[waqar_ahmad]

We know we have to get rid of Rana. We also know that Rao is a great bowler, which is a plus because now we have a very decent opening bowling pair in Gul and Rao.

As for the openers, there's nothing to do. I'd say keep them, and just switch Malik and Younis around.

totally agree. i would like to bring in Sami in place of rana, keep the openers, move malik to 3 and yk to malik's place.

[Blistering Barnacle]

01. Inzi doesn't have the technique, temperament or experience
to handle a new ball. To suggest that he open, is nonsensical. The
same goes for Younis Khan and Yousuf.

02. Shoaib Malik is a fighter. There was no doubt about that, but
he has always had a tendency to play the careless 'uppish drive'
on the leg side and he put a skier up there today. Better teams
have and will exploit this shortcoming in his game.

03. Younis Khan remains out of form, contributing little with the bat
and dropping one sitter in the slips. He doesn't bowl, he does not
field (except stand around in the slips). The only thing he is good
at anymore is starring in one ad, after another. Yipee!

04. Kamran Akmal... what a waste. He needs to see a shrink.

05. Rao was lucky he didn't get hammered all over the place today.
Against better teams, he'll get pulverized.

06. Inzi has shown (once again) that when everybody is losing his
head, he is the one man in this team, who will stand up and take
the fight to the competition. In doing so, he naturally (and quite
rightly) becomes the leader of this outfit. There isn't another like
him and until we can identify someone with those qualities, we
should all thank God that he is playing fit and willing to lead a bunch
of natural chokers.

Let's face it, without our first string of bowlers, we are going nowhere.
The only thing left, is how bad is it going to get for our team, before
they hightail it outa there and come home to face the music.


Sheikh 'Disgusted' Chilli

Disagree with practically all your points.

Start with 1. If Inzi doesn't have the technique and temperament to open, then who does? He will surely perform better than any of the other openers we've tried. Inzi has opened in the past before as well and performed reasonably well. I certainly would bet on him giving us a better foundation than Hafeez or Nazir.

2. Malik was going for the bowling because that was the only choice. He had to try to play big shots. He should be up the order to be able to play his natural game.

3. YK is a good runner and a good fielder. He should bat in Inzi's current position at no. 5. That's a position where accumulation of runs is the main objective, and he's good at that. He's not particularly good at exploiting powerplays and he's not particularly good at hitting out at the end of an innings. So he should play where Inzi currently plays.

4. Useless comment

5. same as above. Rao bowled well today to pick up 3 wickets for 44 from 10 overs.

6. If anyone stood up today it was Malik, not Inzi.